School demanding packed meals for 18 hr bus trip

[Snoopmummy]

DC is off on a school trip involving an 18 hour coach journey. School is demanding we drop children off in the evening having fed them (fine), equipped with nut free snacks (makes sense). We have also been asked to provide TWO meals: a packed breakfast and a packed lunch.

That means breakfast will be consumed 13 hours after they set off and lunch will be something like 17 hours later. Is there any food that can safely last for that length of time in an insulated bag or flask? DC does not like dried fruit or cereal bars.

AIBU to consider asking for the risk assessment over this and suggesting we equip them with money to get food on the way as they will need to stop anyway?!

@sunglassesonthetable "I pack my lunchbox the night before for work tbh. It easily lasts 17 hrs.
You're very precious"

Do you just keep it in your bag?! Or the fridge? Fair play if you'll eat that 😂

I assure you I'm not being precious, I'm saying it's better and possible to organise food that hasn't sat in a bag for that long.

Are you a teacher? You don't seem to give much of a shit about kids or views that are not the same as your own.

That kids have to eat horrible food to make life easier for the teachers.

No not "horrible food". You're acting really spoilt.

Protein bars, crisps, crackers, cheese, brioche , fruit, croissant, etc

Just a different kind of food till normal service is resumed. And they'll be asleep half the time.

They've answered this lots on this thread, but you've got selective reading!

You're anti teachers and just want to be as awkward as possible and derogatory!

Do you have comprehension issues? You can't see or read what the teachers on this thread have explained? Is that why you're so anti teachers?

You're making yourself look a laughing stock TBH!

@sunglassesonthetable "
Of course " it's possible '". Just time consuming and fraught with difficulties. And for what? "

Fraught with difficulties 😂😂😂 JFC! If the teachers can't cope with it I'd fear for the safety of the kids on the rest of the trip. Why not just stay in the bus save for toilet trips. All too difficult otherwise 🙄

Actually pissing myself laughing at fraught with difficulties 😂😂😂

Are you a teacher? You don't seem to give much of a shit about kids or views that are not the same as your own.

My kids have done this sort of trip loads. They were fine with it. I care about them very much cheers.

They didn't have horrible food. They had different food to normal.

Better than spending MORE hours on the coach.

Who is it better for? Your precious prince or princess?

Whilst there choosing their sushi, the others want a KFC, one wants BK?

Do you expect the teachers to ensure they only make good choices with their money and not crisis and chocolate that you could've put in their diamond encrusted lunch box?

Actually pissing myself laughing at fraught with difficulties 😂😂😂

Crack on.

You're also seem to find " food for 17 hours " very very challenging.

I'm not quite pissing myself but that's quite cute.

Tbh you're not taking any notice of what people are pointing out to you.

Because a trip like that is all about priorities. It's about safeguarding, travel duration, keeping the group together and calm, general efficiency in time, and staff ratios.

What the children eat over a relatively short period really isn't high priority when doing what you'd like would add two or three hours to the journey, risk losing children, and mean helping 30 or 40 kids each manage a menu in a foreign language and their foreign currency. And still find time to go to the toilet.

An 18 hour journey isn't taken lightly. Turning it into a 21 hour journey so that the kids can have a couple of 'proper' meals is just madness. And if you asked the kids, they'd prefer their packed lunches anyway.

@kisstheblarney

It won't be my kids will it? Per my examples I know teachers and schools can do better. That's what I've experienced.

Oh dear, you've really lost it now.....

If you don't do what I say, "I fear for the children" fear, fear?

Keep your child off school trips do everyone's favour!

Your child is the one constantly saying " my mum says", we've all experienced them, makes for a very unpleasant child.

@sunglassesonthetable
Sorry what do you mean by "You're also seem to find " food for 17 hours " very very challenging."?

Oh bless you, have you considered trauma counselling for your experiences?

It's obviously a very triggering post for you! I mean the thought of the sandwiches being 17 hours old......

Get a grip!

It won't be my kids will it? Per my examples I know teachers and schools can do better. That's what I've experienced.m

Fabulous! Stick with it.

The thought of something other than " the norm" food wise is obviously a challenge for you.

Breakfast: pain au chocolat, frozen yogurt, fruit, boiled egg.

Lunch: pepperami or saucisson, mini cheddars, carrot sticks, fruit, malt loaf, frozen babybel, scone with jam, pouch of pasta in tomato sauce, Doritos and a jar of salsa….

Snacks: yo-yo bear, popcorn, rice cakes, pack of haribo, crisps, pouch of olives, more fruit, cookies, flapjacks

(Obviously I wouldn’t send all the above!)

Sorry what do you mean by "You're also seem to find " food for 17 hours " very very challenging."?

The idea of packing a palatable lunch box to last that time.

Nothing like a boiled egg to stink the coach out! Tuna is not much better.

@kisstheblarney "If you don't do what I say, "I fear for the children" fear, fear?"

How did you come to that conclusion?

I was saying that if supervising choosing a meal is 'fraught with difficulties' what about the remainder of the trip? What will the kids be doing? Must be pretty dull if buying food is too hard. I didn't say I feared for their safety FWIW

As I was getting my evening meal ready tonight I thought I might as well also prepare my lunch for tomorrow. So 6 o'clock tonight eating at 1 tomorrow. 19 hours and I didn't even give it a thought.

@Anothernewname123

you do realise that not every meal has to be some amazing lovely, maximum nutrient meal don’t you? And that’s ok. These kids are going on a school trip - they’re gonna have an amazing time, food will be the last thing they’ll be bothered about.

you do sound very precious. How will you cope when your kids go off to uni and live off cheap pints and pizza?!

But you fear for them?

I mean actually fear for them because the teachers don't acquiesce to your decisions that they should let them buy lunch in the services.

Now you're worried they'll all be bored?

You're making yourself look more and more irrational!

They've made a decision, don't like it.. tough shit really!

@sunglassesonthetable "The idea of packing a palatable lunch box to last that time."

I've seen all the ideas. Like a giant pile of snacks. Not a meal. (Except the sweaty cheese sandwich)

A lunch box not prepared what, 1/2 hr before =horrible food ..... Now that's pathetic.

How long before do you think the sandwiches your kids might have picked up "airside " were made?

10 mins?

Grow up.

@Anothernewname123

I've seen all the ideas. Like a giant pile of snacks. Not a meal. (Except the sweaty cheese sandwich)

Totally.

And ?

It's more effort than it's worth, simple!

When any normal capable reasonable parent ( some will struggle, but they can come on MN and ask for ideas 🙄, to subsidise their lack of ability), can manage perfectly easily

Sorry you don't hold those skills, but 🤷‍♀️.

@kisstheblarney it's not my kids , I just agree with the OP, not you 🤷🏼‍♀️